[PD] Attaching Xcode debugger

[Dan Wilcox]

> On Feb 28, 2023, at 12:00 PM, pd-list-request at lists.iem.at wrote:
> 
> Hello
> 
> So we all know how Apple is sandboxing like hell.

Sure, but allowing *any* old program to be debugged / decompiled in realtime is not the best for security implications, at least Apple thinks so.

Your subject is a little misleading as the "Xcode debugger" is essential lldb. Xcode itself simply wraps lldb when debugging and provides a UI top interact with it. In fact, on a debug build crash in Xcode, you can enter lldb commands directly into the console, ie. "bt" will provide a backtrace directly.

> How do people attach a debugger to pd to do development?

"lldb" like "gdb"

For quick tests of a known crasher, I usually use:

make
cd bin
lldb pd

This will use the system Tcl/Tk which has had issues for years now, but is enough for quick testing.

For best testing, build the .app and invoke the pd binary inside it. For example:

make
make app
lldb Pd-0.53-2.app/Contents/Resources/bin/pd

Once lldb launches, you have to start the process:

process launch

When a crash happens, you can get the backtrace with "bt", change frames with "f #", and print variables via "v". If you have used gdb before, this is a helpful crib sheet:

https://lldb.llvm.org/use/map.html <https://lldb.llvm.org/use/map.html>

Note: If you are using a newer macOS system and want to *also* use a newer version of Tcl/Tk, build Wish.app first then use it to make the Pd .app bundle:

./macos/tcltk-wish.sh 8.6.12

produces a Wish-8.6.12.app. Next use it to build Pd .app with:

./mac/osx-app.sh -w Wish-8.6.12.app 0.53-2

Now you can change the C sources and rebuild with:

make
./mac/osx-app.sh -w Wish-8.6.12.app 0.53-2

> Do I have to recompile pd myself as the long winded detour?

If you want debugging symbols, yes. Fortunately it is relative easy to compile Pd so I don't consider it "long-winded." In fact, we have spent quite a bit of time to make this both possible *and* relatively easy. (See above.)

--------
Dan Wilcox
@danomatika <http://twitter.com/danomatika>
danomatika.com <http://danomatika.com/>
robotcowboy.com <http://robotcowboy.com/>



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